(29 April 2016, Canberra) The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) agrees with the Productivity Commission’s view that Australia’s intellectual property arrangements have lost sight of users.
The Productivity Commission has today released the Intellectual Property Arrangements Draft Report.
ALIA was pleased the Commission agrees with the library and information sector’s view on three key issues – unpublished works, fair use and safe harbours.
ALIA supports the Commission’s draft recommendations, including:
- 4.1 The Australian Government should amend the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) so the current terms of copyright protection apply to unpublished works.
- 5.3 – The Australian Government should amend the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) (Copyright Act) to replace the current fair dealing exceptions with a broad exception for fair use.
- 18.1 The Australian Government should expand the safe harbour scheme to cover the broader set of online service providers intended in the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
Sue McKerracher, ALIA Chief Executive Officer, said: ‘These are sensible draft recommendations because Australia’s IP arrangements have not kept up with new technologies and the way we access information today.’
‘The library and information sector supports creators being rewarded for their work but, at the same time, there needs to be a balance with the public good.’
The PC’s draft report builds on the body of evidence dating back to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s investigation starting in 2013.
The announcement is here.
